Temperature dependence of low-energy positron-induced Auger-electron emission: Evidence for high surface sensitivity

Journal Article · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.42.1881· OSTI ID:6389286

Mayer, R; Schwab, A ^[1]; Weiss, A ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY (USA)
2. Department of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX (USA)

We report the experimental observation of the temperature dependence of the intensity of low-energy positron-annihilation-induced Auger-electron emission spectroscopy (PAES) from Cu(100). These studies show that the mechanism for stimulating Auger electrons is found to compete with positronium (Ps) emission from a surface. The positrons that induce Auger-electron emission therefore originate from the same surface state from which Ps is thermally desorbed. Hence, PAES should have higher surface sensitivity ({approximately}1 A) relative to conventional methods for generating Auger-electron emission from surfaces ({approximately}5--10 A).

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6389286
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Vol. 42:4; ISSN 0163-1829
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COPPER
AUGER EFFECT
POSITRON COLLISIONS
ANNIHILATION
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
BASIC INTERACTIONS
COLLISIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTS
INTERACTIONS
METALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
360104* - Metals & Alloys- Physical Properties